NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Monday sent former deputy chief minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia to judicial custody till March 20 in a liquor scam case related to change of Delhi's Excise policy.
Sisodiya was arrested by the CBI on February 26.
On his production before a court of Special Judge M K Nagpal, the CBI said he was no more required for custodial interrogation.
The court, on this, remanded Sisodiya to judicial custody till March 20.
Notably, Sisodiya also filed a bail application which has been put for hearing on March 10.
During the hearing, the CBI counsel said the agency was not seeking his further remand for interrogation but in future it might do so.
The CBI also alleged that the supporters of the accused are trying to give a political colour to the entire case. They are claiming in the media that his custody is illegal, it contended.
"Application for judicial custody has been filed. The submission is police custody is not required for time being and may be sought later, if required. In view of the submission made, Sisodia is remanded to Judicial custody till March 20," the judge said in the order.
The court also allowed a plea by Sisodiya to keep him inside the Vipasana cell and make available Bhagwat Gita, pen, diary and his spectacles during his incarceration.
The present case was registered by the CBI on August 17, 2022 under Section 120B IPC and Section 7 of the PC Act, 1988.
As many as 15 persons were specifically named in the FIR, including Sisodiya, who was the Deputy Chief Minister as well as Excise Minister of the Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD) for various irregularities in framing and implementation of the Excise Policy for the year 2021-22. It has been alleged in the FIR that public servants were instrumental in recommending and taking decisions pertaining to the Excise Policy without approval of the competent authority and also with an intent to extend undue favours to the licensees post tender for some illegal pecuniary benefits.
